Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Silence has fallen as midnight creeps closer. Aside from the occasional gentle breeze rustling the grass and bushes, the scenery is eerily quiet, only admired by the moon taking its leisurely journey across the sky. Neither a creature nor a traveller moves in the wilderness of the outskirts of Liyue.

Except for one diligent escort worker heading home, a lithe shadow amidst the trees and rocks moving with the grace of a young lion.

Grinning to himself, Ga’ming stops for a moment to check his surroundings before resuming his trek towards Liyue Harbour. He’s pleased at having finished another job successfully, and even more pleased at the fact that his grateful clients had expressed what seemed like a genuine interest for Wushou dance upon hearing of Ga’ming’s beloved hobby.

Maybe I’ll see them at my next performance, he thinks. Maybe they’ll even be impressed enough to tell about it to their friends, and —

His thoughts are cut off as a rustling sound from amidst a group of old trees catches his attention. Immediately alert, he perks up and spins around to see what caused the noise. He knows the area is one of the more risky ones to travel through at nighttime, so no disturbance should be taken lightly.

“Hey”, Ga’ming calls out loudly. “Who’s there? No trying anything funny, okay?” Despite the words of warning, he keeps his tone light — who knows, it might just be someone on a more adventurous evening walk, or even a wild animal. In any case, Ga’ming wants to make his presence known.

Another sound snaps through the midnight silence, and this time, it’s accompanied by a slight movement not far away. Ga’ming gazes at the direction of the sound firmly, trying to make out the shapes in the rapidly deepening darkness, and readies himself to defend himself if need be.

There is another movement, and Ga’ming stays alert… but as someone finally appears from behind the trees, it’s not a wild animal. It doesn’t look like a bandit looking for someone to rob, either.

It’s a young boy. He is probably around Ga’ming’s age, or a bit younger; he doesn’t look like native Liyuen, with his wild mane of silvery-blond hair and a foreign-looking outfit with a long hooded jacket. His eyes, a piercing shade of crimson, are fixed on Ga’ming with an alarmed, distressed look, and he looks completely worn out, his gloves and face muddy and dirty and his arms full of scratches.

“Hey”, Ga’ming greets, giving the stranger a smile. “Are you lost?”

The stranger takes a slow step closer. He is still visibly tense, full of caution; there’s something almost feral about him, reminding Ga’ming of a wild animal on high alert. Like a wolf separated from its pack, Ga’ming finds himself thinking.

“Are you from around here? Or a traveller passing by?” Ga’ming continues, spreading his arms in a friendly, open greeting. “Do you need help, maybe? This is not the best spot to be hanging around, at this hour especially…”

“I… I am not from here”, the boy finally answers. His voice is soft, but cautious, just as tense as his entire presence. “I… was here with a friend.”

Hearing him speak, Ga’ming can instantly tell the boy is definitely not of Liyuen origin. His accent is unfamiliar, and he speaks slowly, as if hesitating while choosing his words.

“Where’s your friend? If you need help or guidance, I’ll be glad to show you around”, Ga’ming says, hoping to reassure the stranger a bit — he looks like he’s in need of a good rest, and possibly medical attention. “Oh, and I have some stuff to help with those scratches, if you need…”

The boy shifts uneasily, his movements once again reminding Ga’ming of a restless animal. “I only want to find my lupical. I don’t know… if he is safe…”

Lupical? Ga’ming has no idea what that means, and wonders if it’s a dialectal word he’s not familiar with, but it’s obvious the boy is talking about his friend. “Hey, no worries! I’ll help you out”, he says. “Where did you lose sight of him? Let’s have a look and see if we can spot him.”

The boy casts a solemn look at Ga’ming, but his tense demeanour has softened a bit. Like a wolf lowering its hackles. “We came from there… we were exploring the ruins”, he says, pointing at the direction of Qingxu Pool. “We were going back that way.” He turns to point towards the opposite direction. “We wanted to go back... to the city with boats.”

“You chose well, then!” Ga’ming says. “That way is exactly where we should go if we wanna get back to Liyue Harbour. Your friend’s probably headed there as well, if that was your plan. Oh, by the way, what should I call you?”

The boy blinks at him. “I’m Razor”, he says. “What is your name?”

“Call me Ga’ming! All right, now that we’re all set, let’s not waste any more time. Gotta find that pal of yours before he gets all worried!”

Without further ado, Ga’ming summons Man Chai. Instantly full of energy, Man Chai sparks up like a feisty firecracker; the suanni’s fiery shine looks particularly brilliant in the darkness. Razor’s eyes widen as he sees the spirit suddenly appearing to frolic around Ga’ming.

“How does your buddy look like?” Ga’ming asks Razor, trying to keep the excited lion spirit from smothering his face in affectionate nuzzles. “Man Chai here can help us look for him.”

“His hair is golden-white”, Razor says. “And his eyes are green. He is shorter than me.” He indicates a height about half a head shorter than himself. “He has a Pyro vision. He smells of Windwheel Aster and warmth…” His voice falters, a look of pain clouding his eyes. “He is my best friend”, he adds quietly.

I would’ve guessed as much, Ga’ming thinks. “You must care about him a whole lot. Don’t worry, Man Chai will do his best to find him. Won’t you, pal?” He pats Man Chai’s head, earning a loud excited purr. “Go ahead, you heard what Razor said, right? Time to look for… what’s your friend called?”

“Bennett”, Razor says, his voice brimming with worry and fondness.

Having gotten his instructions, Man Chai rushes away, leaving behind a trail of fiery glow. Ga’ming looks after him, pleased to see his little companion take on the mission so readily.

“Okay then, we should go ahead too”, Ga’ming says. “Let’s head towards the Harbour. It’ll be much nicer there! And don’t you worry, Man Chai’s a real quick little fellow. He’ll cover the entire area in a heartbeat — your pal Bennett’s gonna be found before we know it.”

As they make their way towards the harbour, Razor stays quiet, barely speaking at all. He’s obviously distressed, riddled with worry for his friend; but despite his silence, he follows Ga’ming closely and listens to his directions with careful attention.

Ga’ming soon notices that Razor isn’t hindered much by his unfamiliarity with the area, or even his injuries and obvious fatigue. The way he moves is steady and agile — he seems to be well accustomed to moving in wilderness. Ga’ming finds himself intrigued by his new acquaintance.

After a while, their journey is interrupted by an energetic sound somewhere between a purr and a roar. Ga’ming perks up, recognising Man Chai immediately; and just then, the little suanni appears from among the trees.

Man Chai is not alone. He is followed by another young boy who can’t be anyone but Razor’s friend — not only does he match Razor’s description perfectly, but also, Razor lets out a loud gasp upon seeing him.

“Benny!!”

Razor’s entire presence seems to light up with urgency and hope as he sees his friend. Without a second’s hesitation, he rushes to Bennett and tackles him in a tight hug.

“Razor! Hey, buddy, are you all right?” Bennett squeezes him back. “I’m so sorry, I messed up again! I didn’t mean to lose you—”

“Not Benny’s fault”, Razor says fiercely. “I should have protected…!”

“No, you did great, don’t say that! I’m just glad you’re okay…”

“I was so worried”, Razor breathes. “Benny, I thought…”

Bennett shakes his head and hugs Razor even tighter. “I’m sorry for scaring you”, he says. “But we’re okay now. Cleared another adventure safe and sound, right? Hahaha... oh, Razor, it’s so good to see you…”

The two of them hold each other tight for several moments. Bennett pats Razor’s back and even strokes his long, silvery hair, while Razor has buried his face against Bennett’s shoulder and seems entirely unwilling to let go of him now that he has him safely by his side.

Ga’ming gives them the time and space they need, staying aside and idly petting Man Chai to thank him for the help. The little suanni seems more than aware of his valuable contribution, if the proud tone in his loud purring is anything to go by.

Wow, they must really be just as good friends as Razor told me, Ga’ming thinks as he glances at the hugging boys. Maybe they even have some sort of a boyfriend thing going on? Razor did say “friend”, but who knows. Whatever their relationship, the two of them seem positively inseparable.

…Or maybe they’re family.

The thought pops into Ga’ming’s mind uninvited, without much logic behind it, like it always does; and like every time, it makes something sting in his heart. He lowers his gaze, his jovial mood dampened for the first time that day.

Just then, Razor and Bennett finally let go of each other, with one last look at each other as if they’re ascertaining that the other really is there. Even Razor is smiling, his solemn gaze replaced with fondness and relief.

Bennett glances at his side and notices Ga’ming. As their eyes meet, he raises his brows with surprise — like he had been too caught up in his reunion with his friend to notice Ga’ming at all. “Hi there”, Bennett says with a smile. “Are you going to Liyue Harbour too?”

“He helped”, Razor explains. “His name is Ga’ming. He showed me the way.”

“Oh, wow, really?” Bennett’s face lightens up. He seems to be just as weary and scraped up as Razor, but there’s a bright spark in his eyes as he steps closer to Ga’ming. “Hey, thanks so much! Are you from Liyue? Would you mind pointing us to the right direction to get back to the harbour? We’re kinda lost, as you might’ve noticed, haha…”

Bennett’s voice is just as lively as his smile, and although he has the same accent as Razor, his speech is much faster and more energetic. Ga’ming instantly feels an odd kinship towards him.

“No worries”, Ga’ming says. “That’s exactly what I’m planning to do. No way I’m gonna leave you two wandering around at this hour — it’s my job to lead people safely where they need to go!” He grins, Man Chai giving a determined purr beside him. “Just follow me. We aren’t that far from home!”

They continue their way towards Liyue Harbour, and now that Bennett has joined the group, their journey is no longer quiet.

“We’re from Mondstadt”, Bennett tells Ga’ming. “We moved here not too long ago, so we aren’t super familiar with the area yet…”

So that’s where the accent comes from, Ga’ming thinks. “That’s a pretty long move! What brought you to Liyue?”

Both Razor and Bennett smile, something warm and affectionate twinkling in their eyes. “We teamed up with these guys from Liyue to take care of some stuff”, Bennett says. “It was supposed to be a single mission, but we became kinda good friends along the way, and one adventure became three, then five... and, well, they eventually asked if we wanted to try out having another home here, so that we could all hang out more.”

“We are a team. We help each other with everything”, Razor says. “They are lupical, now.”

“‘Lupical’? I gotta admit, I haven’t heard that word before”, Ga’ming says. “Is it something you guys say in Mondstadt? Your dialect for a ‘pal’ or something?”

Razor shakes his head. “Everyone… doesn’t know this word. Not even in Mondstadt. I learned it in my pack.”

“Razor is friends with some wolves in Mondstadt”, Bennett explains. “He used to live with them.”

“With wolves?” Ga’ming says. Wow, these guys seem to have been through a lot!

“Lupical”, Razor says, “means those you protect with all you have. Lupical means those who protect you and never betray you.” He looks at Bennett with a small, warm smile. “Lupical means those you love. It means family.”

The all too familiar, wistful trace of melancholy sneaks its way into Ga’ming’s chest. Like always, he ignores it, determined to instead focus on the joy of new meetings. “Hey, that’s so nice”, he says. “You learn something new every day, and I’m one word wiser now.” He gives Razor and Bennett a smile. “So you’re from Mondstadt… it’s gotta be pretty different from Liyue? How do you like it here?”

“It’s a lot of fun!” Bennett says earnestly. “Different, sure, but so cool. The people are super nice, too! And it’s always exciting to see new places.” He looks at Ga’ming with an awkward grin. “Although today it kinda backfired… me and Razor meant to just explore the nearby areas a bit, but ended up getting lost!”

“Liyue is big”, Razor says. “The smells are strange. The trees and hills are strange. So many ruins. It’s beautiful… but easy to lose your way.”

Ga’ming nods sympathetically. “I can imagine! Don’t worry, even people who live around here have gotten lost before.”

“And something spotted us before we spotted it”, Bennett adds. “That’s how we got separated… it got dark so quickly, and some monsters rushed after us. I thought at first they were hilichurls, but it could’ve been something else too — one of them managed to push me off a hillside, and when I got back on my feet and tried to get back to Razor, everything was really dark and I had no idea where I was. I managed to fight it off, but by that point I was totally lost…”

“Oh”, Ga’ming says. “I can’t be sure, but it might’ve been a night spirit of some kind. There are some mischievous spirits roaming around that area near the ruins, and they might’ve noticed you two aren’t locals — in other words, an easy prey. I’m just glad you fended it off!”

“I looked for Benny”, Razor says, distress seeping into his voice, “but I got lost too. I wandered around for so long… until Ga’ming found me.”

“I sure am glad I did”, Ga’ming says. “But you did great, getting through all that in the middle of the night.” He smiles. “The next time though, don’t hesitate to ask me to accompany you, at least until you get to know the area a bit better. The more the merrier, and I’ll be glad to show you around!”

They continue on their way, and thankfully, it doesn’t take them too long to cross the remaining distance to their destination. The lights of Liyue Harbour are bright and warm; it feels like the harbour itself is welcoming the three young travellers back to the streets basking in that safe, gentle glow. Ga’ming smiles as he sees the look of relief on Razor’s and Bennett’s faces.

“Here we are”, Ga’ming says. “Safe and sound, just like promised! Do you need me to escort you home?”

“Oh, no! This was plenty enough help — we’ll find our way back from here, no problem. Thanks a lot!” Bennett says. “Wow, we sure were lucky to run into you. Must’ve used your luck, Razor, instead of mine, hahaha…”

Ga’ming raises his brow, but doesn’t ask Bennett to elaborate — it’s very late, and the Mondstadters look like they’re in need of a good rest. “All right then”, he says. “We’ll part ways here, but if you need a guide or any kind of help around Liyue, I’m your guy. Or if you just wanna meet up! It was fun chatting with you!”

Bennett gives him a bright grin, and Razor smiles as he nods at Ga’ming. “It was a lot of fun!” Bennett agrees. “It’d be awesome to have you show us around Liyue!”

“It’s a promise, then. Oh, and how about we go for a meal tomorrow? You ever tried dim sum? I’ll be around for at least another day”, Ga’ming offers. “It won’t do if I only show you the spots to potentially get in trouble — you should get to know all the best places to have a bite to eat, too.” He smiles and winks. “My treat — it’ll be a welcome feast!”

Both of the Mondstadt boys’ eyes light up at the mention of a delicious meal. “Wow, that sounds great! Liyuen food is so good”, Bennett says.

“And”, Ga’ming adds, “if you’d like, I can give you a heads up of my next Wushou performance… you ever heard of Wushou dance? Nah, it’s probably not something you’d have run into in Mondstadt…”

Razor turns to look at him. “I think… I heard it before”, he says. He tilts his head, the gesture making him look astonishingly much like a curious wolf pup. “It is… something with lions? A dance with animal stories?”

“Oh! Not exactly, but you’re close”, Ga’ming says, and this time it’s his turn to perk up with excitement. “The performance doesn’t necessarily need to have a story, but we do use cool props, like huge lion heads…” He grins. “You should come have a look for yourselves if you feel up to it!”

Bennett and Razor smile at him and nod. “Can’t wait to see it”, Bennett says. “Let us know when and where we can come see you!”

After agreeing on a place and time to meet the next day for their lunch, they bid each other goodbye. With one last smile and a wave at Ga’ming, Razor and Bennett go on their way, more than ready to get some well-needed rest. Ga’ming watches after them until they turn a corner and disappear from sight, and then heads back to the inn where he stays during his overnight trips to Liyue Harbour.

Halfway there, Man Chai appears to nuzzle his cheek, letting out those excited, affectionate purrs Ga’ming has grown so fond of during their time together. “Thanks again, Man Chai”, Ga’ming says, patting the suanni’s head. “You were great. Thanks to you, Razor and Bennett got safely reunited. Must’ve been pretty awful to get lost in an unknown place, and to get attacked like that…”

He draws a soft breath. “Do you think they’ll really want to see the Wushou performance? You think they might like it?”

Man Chai purrs loudly and nuzzles his face even more vigorously. Ga’ming laughs, warmed both by his companion’s enthusiastic support and the soft glow of Pyro that surrounds the little spirit. “All right, I gotta put in some extra training, then”, Ga’ming says. “I wanna do my utmost best to show the new pals how amazing Wushou really can be!”

As Ga’ming approaches the inn, he finds himself smiling. He always enjoys meeting people and making friends, but it’s especially nice to run into someone so close to his age — not to mention when they seem so genuinely interested to share things he’s excited about.

He’s really looking forward to tomorrow.

Chapter Text

“We’re home!”

Both Zhongli and Childe appear in the hallway to meet their young protégés as soon as they hear them calling out. Razor pulls the door shut behind him, while Bennett gives a sheepish grin.

“Sorry, we didn’t mean to stay this late…”

Zhongli casts a slow look at them, calm and composed as always, but raising his brows slightly. “You two seem to have been through some rough journeys today. Are you all right?”

 “Wow, you really look like you had more than just a little stroll out there”, Childe adds. “Got into adventures again?” He walks closer and ruffles Bennett’s hair. “I hope it was just adventures, and not trouble?”

Childe is obviously joking, but Bennett can tell the slight undertone of protectiveness in his easy-going words. A warm feeling flickers in Bennett’s heart as he, once again, realises how much Childe cares about him and Razor — almost as if they really were his little brothers.

“Um, well, there were some mishaps!” Bennett admits. “But we met a really nice Liyuen guy who helped us out and showed us the way back. We’re all right now!”

“We will meet him again tomorrow”, Razor adds. “He promised to teach us about the Harbour.”

Childe smiles, reaching out to give Razor a fond hair-ruffling as well. “Good to know you’re already finding new pals here”, he says. “But hey, be careful. I don’t want you to get in too much danger out there, okay? Your Tartaglia-gege can’t be looking after you rascals every moment of the day after all, you know.” He grins.

“We promise”, Razor says solemnly.

“No worries! We’ll look after each other instead”, Bennett says, smiling.

“Good!” Childe pats their shoulders. “You two should go wash up, and patch up the worst of those scratches. I’ll prepare an evening snack in the kitchen in the meantime.”

“And, as pleased as I am to hear you have found a local companion to show you the sights”, Zhongli adds, “I will also be glad to offer any assistance I can if you want to know more about the surrounding areas.” He smiles, his golden eyes softening with genuine fondness. “After all the years I have spent in Liyue, I might be bold enough to say I am quite knowledgeable about the nation.”

“Thanks, Zhongli-xiansheng”, Bennett says, his heart once again brimming over with the warmth and joy of being home. Being with family. “We’ll be sure to ask you!”

————————

The beds in Liyue — at least the ones in Zhongli and Childe’s residence — are always comfortable, but tonight Bennett especially appreciates the simple luxury of getting to curl up in luxurious bedsheets on the softest mattress. He flops down on the bed, yawning and staying there for a moment before settling down under the covers properly.

“Today sure was an adventure”, he says to Razor, who quietly follows his lead and sits down on his own bed. “It was fun, but I could’ve done without the last part!”

“Mm…” Razor sounds absent-minded. “It was scary. I don’t want that again.”

“We’ll be more careful next time.” Bennett smiles. “And hey, Ga’ming promised to show us around. I bet we’ll know our way around Liyue just as well as back in Mondstadt in no time.”

Razor doesn’t answer. Bennett sits up on the bed and turns to look at him; Razor seems tense, his face even more solemn than usually, and Bennett can tell with one look that his friend is genuinely upset.

“Hey”, Bennett says, more softly. “Are you still thinking about what happened back in the forest?”

Razor turns to look at him, gazing deep into his eyes. Bennett stands up from his bed and sits down beside Razor instead, wrapping his arm around him. Razor leans against him with a small sigh and nuzzles his hair, in one of his wolflike gestures of asking for affection and closeness.

“I was scared”, Razor finally says. “I hate not knowing where Benny is. I hate seeing you hurt. I hate —” he lets out a stifled breath — “I hate being so helpless, unable to protect…”

Bennett turns to face Razor to fully hug him. It’s no wonder Razor is especially upset after what happened; he never reacts well to these kinds of situations, obviously still scarred by the tragedy of losing his first packmates in Mondstadt. Seeing his friends in danger must stir up all the worst memories from that awful day.

“I know.” Bennett squeezes him tighter. “That wasn’t the nicest end to the day, for sure. I know you feel bad about stuff like that. But we’re safe now… back at home. Now that we’re under the same roof with Tartaglia-gege, nothing’s gonna be able to hurt us…” He laughs, but Razor doesn’t join in, only letting out a stifled sigh as he holds Bennett closer.

It makes Bennett’s heart ache and melt at the same time. Moments like this still catch him by surprise sometimes — to realise that even with all his misfortune, he has found such a wonderful team. It’s amazing that he has managed to make a friend like Razor, a companion who understands and cherishes him to this extent. To think that Bennett now has someone by his side who would be this devastated at the mere thought of losing him…

Overcome by affection, Bennett hugs Razor tightly. “Razor… you know, I’m so lucky to have you”, he says. “And I’m never gonna leave you. We’ll have so many adventures, all over Teyvat! Together forever, right?”

“Mm…” Razor nods and sighs again. “Together forever. We will protect each other.”

Bennett smiles, happy to hear the careful note of hope in Razor’s voice. “You wanna come sleep in my bed and cuddle?”

“Yes…”

Petting Razor’s hair once more, Bennett finally pulls back from the hug. “Let’s go and tuck ourselves in, then”, he says. “It’s super late… we can’t oversleep tomorrow and miss the lunch with Ga’ming!”

In no time, the two of them are snuggled up, warm and comfortable. Razor lets out a content sigh and burrows himself under the soft blankets. Feeling the tension leave Razor’s body, Bennett smiles; he can’t help thinking of the way the wolf pups in Wolvendom doze off on his lap whenever he and Razor visit the pack.

“Benny?” Razor whispers.

“Mm?”

“Good night.”

Bennett smiles, cuddling closer to Razor. “Good night.” He pats Razor’s shoulder gently. “Love you, buddy.”

Razor squeezes him closer. “I love you too.”

It takes mere moments before Bennett feels himself starting to doze off; the long, thrilling day is taking its toll. However, despite the dangers and fright he and Razor went through, he is just as excited to face the new day.

After all, even a completely unknown terrain feels much less daunting when a new friend has promised to show you the way.

Chapter Text

In good spirits, Ga’ming hums a simple tone as he walks briskly towards Wanmin Restaurant. Man Chai is bouncing around him, apparently just as excited for the meeting with their new friends as Ga’ming is.

“We were lucky with the weather, huh? Such a nice sunny day for sightseeing”, Ga’ming says, scratching Man Chai behind the ears as the suanni rushes to nuzzle him in a bout of excited affection.

When Ga’ming reaches the restaurant, he is happy to see Razor and Bennett already standing outside and waiting for him. With a wide smile and a wave of his hand, he greets them and jogs closer, Man Chai right upon his heels.

“Hey, pals! How’s it going?”

“Ga’ming!” Bennett waves back at him, his bright green eyes shining with genuine excitement. “Good morning!”

“Good morning”, Razor says as well, his smile more subtle, but not any less warm.

Compared to how weary Razor and Bennett looked like last night, the difference is — well, like night and day. They seem full of new energy after a good night’s rest, having washed away the dust of their adventures and wrapped up the cuts and scrapes. Ga’ming is glad to see his new buddies so much happier.

With a grin, Ga’ming pats Bennett’s shoulder. “Are you guys hungry? Hehe, without further ado, let’s tuck in! Like I said, it’s my treat!”

The food is delicious as always. Ga’ming is glad to see Bennett and Razor enjoying the meal; they really deserve some treats after their tough adventure the previous day! Then again, Ga’ming has full trust in Chef Mao’s and Xiangling’s cooking ability, and it’s never a surprise when even people from other nations end up enjoying the flavours.

They eat while engaged in a curious, leisurely chat, both sides eager to get to know the other better. It turns out, Razor and Bennett are both younger than Ga’ming, but only by a little bit; Ga’ming feels a mix of protectiveness and fondness looking at them, feeling like he might grow to view both of them as very close friends.

“Tartaglia-gege was so happy to hear we’ve found a new pal to show us around the Harbour”, Bennett says, grinning as he catches another morsel of food with his chopsticks. He’s decent at using them — you can tell it’s not the first choice of dining utensils where he’s from, but Ga’ming has seen people do far worse trying to eat in Liyuen style.

“Oh, that’s a name I don’t remember hearing”, Ga’ming says, raising his brow. “This Mr Tartaglia must be important to you… is he one of the guys in your team?”

“He is!” Bennett drops the piece of fish from his chopsticks in his excitement. “He’s so cool, one of the strongest fighters I’ve ever seen. It’s too bad he’s got his own stuff to deal with — the Adventurers’ Guild could really use someone like him!”

“Tartaglia-gege is strong, and fierce”, Razor says. “But, he is kind. He protects us. He loves his family, and Zhongli-xiansheng.”

Ga’ming’s eyes widen. “Wait — what? Zhongli-xiansheng? You know Mister Zhongli?”

“Yeah, he’s Tartaglia-gege’s husband! He’s really cool too”, Bennett says excitedly. “He’s quiet and wise and knows so much stuff, especially around Liyue… but he’s also really strong and —” He stops abruptly, blinking. “Oh, wait, you know Zhongli-xiansheng?”

Now it’s Ga’ming’s turn to grin. “Yeah! He’s pretty well known around here. I never heard he was married, though!”

“Oh, that makes sense, really”, Bennett says. “It’s not the first time we go somewhere in Liyue and people are all, ‘oh, mister Zhongli is here!’” He laughs. “You should come visit us someday — maybe Tartaglia-gege would cook something to treat you in turn! He makes great stuff!”

“He likes to cook”, Razor says, “and he always says to return favours.” He looks at Ga’ming with a small smile. “I think Tartaglia-gege would be happy to share with you.”

Ga’ming smiles. It hasn’t been even a full day since he met Razor and Bennett, and he already has a feeling they’re the type of people he could easily hang out with for an entire day or a week.

“Thanks, guys”, he says. “I’ll be happy to accept your invitation, if Mr Tartaglia and Mr Zhongli ever want to have me over.” He grins. “But don’t think I won’t do my best to earn that special treatment, either — I’m gonna help you out with anything you ever need while you’re here in Liyue!”

———🐺👍🦁———

When they’re done with their early lunch, Ga’ming asks if his new Mondstadt friends might want to go on a little daytrip around the Harbour. As expected, they accept eagerly; and so, the trio sets out on a sightseeing stroll while trying to decide which direction they should head to explore further.

They have barely walked down one street when someone spots Ga’ming and waves at him. “Hey, Ga’ming! Could you lend a hand?”

Ga’ming instantly recognises the owner of the bright voice — it’s Chen Li, a local clothier who he has helped many times with her sales shipments and orders from outside Liyue. He turns towards her, smiling. “Oh hey, good morning, miss Chen! How could I help you?”

Chen Li points at a crate that’s sitting next to her storefront. “I got some things here that should be delivered as soon as possible… preferably today”, she says. “But I’ve got my hands full with a big commission all the way from Fontaine, and I’d really love if I could keep working on it now that I’m kind of in the zone. Would you happen to have a free moment to take them in my stead? The recipient is not too far — it’s mister Liu, living right on the north side of Mt. Tianheng, and it’s just a few fabric samples.” She smiles. “Only if you have the time, though.”

Ga’ming thinks for a moment, quickly mapping out a route in his mind, and smiles. “No problem! I don’t have anything specific planned, so I’ll be happy to take your things where they need to go!”

“Oh, thank you so much!” She presses her palms together in a gesture of gratitude. “I’ll pay you some extra for the unplanned work, of course!”

“Nah, it’s okay”, Ga’ming says with a grin. “Actually, it’s me who should be thanking miss Chen — me and my pals here were just thinking about where to do some sightseeing today, and this spares us the decision.” He winks at Razor and Bennett. “No more wondering about where to go, then!”

They head northwest of Liyue, eager to see the sights of Mt. Tianheng. They chat as they walk, with Ga’ming sharing tidbits about the surrounding areas while Bennett and Razor compare the scenery to how their homeland back in Mondstadt differs from Liyue. The more Ga’ming hears of that northern land, the more curious he gets to visit there as soon as possible.

As fun as their trip is shaping up to be, the jovial atmosphere gets a rather harsh interruption as they’re climbing up a hillside path. Without warning, an old tree growing next to the path makes a loud creak; the next moment, one of the branches breaks off from the tree and starts falling right towards the path.

Ga’ming — who is, thanks to his job, more than used to being on alert at all times and reacting to sudden dangers — gasps sharply and turns to his new friends in the fraction of a second to push them out of the way. He, however, has no time to even react as Razor has already grabbed Bennett and pulled him back. The branch narrowly avoids all three, hitting the hillside path with a heavy, ominous thud.

“Whoa!” Ga’ming stares at the branch, his eyes wide. Man Chai dashes around him, agitated both by the loud noise and the sudden flash of alarm in Ga’ming’s mood. “It’s all right, Man Chai, calm down… wow, that sure was bad timing if I ever saw one! I’ve heard of the hillside trees getting toppled over by storms sometimes, but the weather’s been smooth and nice lately.” He turns to look at Bennett and Razor. “You guys okay?”

Razor still has an arm around Bennett, his crimson eyes full of fierce protectiveness as if the branch might get up and attack them at any moment. Bennett, though, looks rather unsurprised by the sudden fright; rather, his ever-shiny smile has turned positively awkward as he scratches the back of his head.

“Um”, he says. “Ga’ming, there’s something you should know before we keep going…”

Ga’ming listens attentively as Bennett tells him about a curse — it sounds like — of abysmally bad luck that he’s been suffering from for as long as he can remember. Razor is solemn and quiet, still glued to his friend’s side as Bennett describes the kind of misfortune that might befall him… or anyone travelling with him.

“Although, thankfully, I feel like it’s not that bad these days”, Bennett says. Almost absent-mindedly, he places his hand on Razor’s forearm and pats it gently as if to calm his friend down. “Especially when I’m around Razor, I think? I guess it might be something about having a supportive friend beside me — maybe having so much goodwill and acceptance can cancel some of the bad luck. Or maybe the mishaps just don’t feel half as bad when I’m with Razor.” He grins and turns to look at Razor, whose serious expression melts into a careful smile.

“Or maybe”, Bennett adds, “Razor brings me good luck!”

“Benny…”

“Anyway”, Bennett says, “I totally understand if you wanna cancel our plans. It might not be the safest to be around me… honestly, I was a bit surprised when nothing bad happened on our way back last night!” He gives a laugh, but Ga’ming can tell — even without having known Bennett for that long — that the laughter is lacking Bennett’s usual sincere, sunny warmth.

“Wow, that must suck”, Ga’ming says. “And hey, what’s that about cancelling our plans? Of course I’m not gonna leave you just like that!” He smiles. “Actually, I often get a bit scratched up in my job, too, so I usually carry bandages and stuff with me — I can give you some if something happens! And, wait —” He points towards the direction they came from. “Did you notice the house at the end of the large stairs we passed by just before exiting the city area? That’s Dr. Baizhu’s pharmacy! He’s really good, he’s patched me up so many times. I can introduce you, now that you’re gonna be hanging out in Liyue too… better know the local doc in any case, right?”

Bennett stares at him, his eyes wide with astonishment. After a few moments of silence, his expression softens, and he carefully returns Ga’ming’s smile. “Wow, thank you, Ga’ming…”

“No need to thank me, I’ll be glad to help you out”, Ga’ming says and grins. “To be honest, it’s always so much fun when people from other nations show up in Liyue. Of course I wanna make sure you two will have a good time, so that we can hang out more!”

———🐺👍🦁———

They continue on their trek, and although a few clouds gather in the sky to obscure the bright sunlight, they don’t let it hinder their excitement (Bennett does grimace apologetically and says they should watch out for rain, since he’s around, but Ga’ming reassures him with a wink and a thumbs-up, saying then they’ll just have a great excuse to ask if Mr. Liu might offer them tea while they shelter from the rain after delivering his package).

Thankfully, no rainfall appears to ruin their adventure. They get to Mr. Liu’s residence with no problem, and the man is overjoyed to receive the urgent fabric samples.

“Do stay for a bite, Ming’er, and your friends too”, he offers, but Ga’ming shakes his head.

“Thanks for the offer, Mister! But I think we’ll continue on our way. My pals are from Mondstadt, and I promised to show them around Liyue”, Ga’ming says. “Unless you want to take a break?” He turns to Razor and Bennett.

“No, let’s go! We’ve got such a good vibe going”, Bennett says, once again all sunshine, since no other mishaps have occurred since the start of their journey. Razor beside him nods as well — and so, the trio heads out to the wilder areas around the Harbour, ready for adventure.

The further they travel, the clearer it becomes just how close Razor and Bennett are, and how much time they’ve spent together. They seem to instinctively know what the other is thinking; they’re always looking after each other, never straying too far apart as if tied together by protective fondness. Bennett positively shines whenever he grins at Razor excitedly, and Razor’s solemn eyes fill with pure gentleness every time he returns his friend’s smile.

Watching them, Ga’ming once again feels something wistful stirring in his heart. He has his fair share of friends, very close ones even… but there’s something really special between the Mondstadt boys. It’s no wonder Ga’ming thought at first they might be in love — but after observing the way they act and speak around each other, he soon comes to understand their relationship is not quite like that.

The love is there for sure, though. Even if it’s not romantic, it’s obvious Razor and Bennett cherish each other beyond words.

However, despite the deep bond between Bennett and Razor, they make sure to never shut Ga’ming out either. They listen to of his stories from Liyue and travel tips eagerly, their gazes full of genuine awe and excitement as they absorb all of his guidance. Ga’ming finds himself increasingly endeared by the easy companionship blooming between the three of them.

They make it all the way to Luhua Pool unharmed. They roam around for a bit, admiring the breathtaking scenery; as they continue further and nothing even remotely bad happens, Ga’ming starts to think Bennett might have used up all his bad luck for today.

It turns out, his relief is short-lived — they’ve barely left Luhua Pool behind when something unexpected and unwelcome interrupts their journey.

Two Geovishap hatchlings spot the three kids strolling too close to what they must consider their turf, and before Ga’ming has a chance to warn his companions or make a move to run away, the Geovishaps are approaching them with threatening glares in their eyes.

“Oops”, Ga’ming says, summoning his claymore as Man Chai lets out a warning roar. “Careful, pals! Those guys could mean trouble… Have you seen a Geovishap before?”

“No”, Bennett says, staring at the approaching monsters with wide eyes. “But they can’t be that bad if we fend them off together!” He and Razor have also readied their weapons, their gazes full of determination as they face the new enemy.

“They might look like bulky lizards”, Ga’ming says, “but they’re fast as a hasty spring breeze. Look out for their spin attacks!”

The Geovishaps have stopped to glare at them, and for a moment Ga’ming hopes they might just turn away and retreat. No such luck — one of them bursts into action and rushes towards them, quickly followed by its companion.

“Be careful not to get hit by them as they rush!” Ga’ming shouts, stepping quickly to stand as a shield between the approaching creature and his new friends. The Geovishaps swerve to the side, making a large circle around the three travellers as if looking for the optimal angle to attack from.

“You be careful too, Ga’ming!” Bennett says, and then the Geovishaps are upon them.

It’s a quick battle, over in what feels like only a few heartbeats — it’s a flurry of dodges and strikes, the two claymores and Bennett’s sword enhanced with bursts of Pyro and Electro energy. Man Chai darts around, distracting the furious lizards by rushing close in fiery circles and swatting at their eyes with dexterous paws to give more time for Ga’ming and the others to attack.

Having travelled the Liyuen lands countless times, Ga’ming is naturally far more familiar with the vishaps than the Mondstadt boys. However, Razor and Bennett don’t slack off either; their teamwork is just as flawless in battle as when travelling, and they stay close to each other, obviously more than used to protecting each other. Their Visions are a good match as well, Razor’s Electro sparks bursting wildly as Bennett’s Pyro ignites them.

Before long, one of the vishaps decides that protecting its dignity and turf isn’t worth getting battered by these little humans, and turns away to flee. Its companion snarls at the boys, and for a moment Ga’ming feels triumphant, convinced that he and his friends will be left alone; but the Geovishap decides to get the last word and makes one last lunge towards Bennett.

“Ouch—!”

“Benny!” Razor yells as he hears Bennett crying out in pain. A flash of vivid purple bursts around Razor, his claymore charging up with Electro energy; with a yell that sounds surprisingly fierce coming from such a soft-spoken boy, Razor strikes at the Geovishap. Caught off guard, the lizard stumbles further away and stares at its foe for a few more moments. Razor’s crimson eyes are firm as he returns the stare unflinchingly… and then, finally, the vishap turns tail and follows its companion.

Immediately dismissing his weapon and letting the Electro sparks dissolve, Razor rushes to Bennett, who is holding onto his forearm. “Benny! Are you okay?”

“No worries”, Bennett grins, although it turns into a grimace as a thin stream of blood trickles down his arm. “Man, I should’ve been more careful, I thought both us and the vishaps agreed the fight was done, hahaha…”

“It’s not your fault, Bennett — those things are vicious! C’mon, let me see that arm”, Ga’ming says, already digging into his pocket dimension for a bandage. “Here, let’s patch you up. I hope it doesn’t hurt too much? We can get you something for the pain when we get back to the Harbour…”

“Nah, this is nothing!” Bennett waves his hand dismissively as Ga’ming wraps the bandage around the cut on his arm. “I’ve seen way worse!”

I bet you have, Ga’ming thinks, looking at the large scar on Bennett’s shoulder. “I still wish you didn’t have to get scratched up like this on our fun trip.”

“Don’t worry about it”, Bennett says, sounding sincerely cheerful as if he hadn’t gotten hurt at all. Razor is still hovering anxiously next to him, and Bennett turns to look at him, his bright eyes softening as he smiles at his friend comfortingly.

As Ga’ming continues wrapping the bandage around the cut, Man Chai purrs and pushes himself against Bennett’s chest. Bennett gives a surprised laugh and pets the suanni with his free hand. “Aww, Man Chai, you’re so warm! You want a hug?”

“He’s such a cuddle bug”, Ga’ming laughs. “You wouldn’t believe it, but when we first met, he got all huffy at me for cooing at him like a cute kitten — who can blame me, really, just look at him! — but now he’s like this, shamelessly begging for pats and snuggles all the time…” Ga’ming grins, and although Man Chai lets out a playful little growl as if telling him to have some respect, the sound immediately melts into another purr as Bennett strokes the suanni’s back.

Soon, Ga’ming is done wrapping up Bennett’s arm and steps back, smiling. “There you go — let me know if it’s too tight!”

“No, it’s perfect! Thanks so much, Ga’ming”, Bennett says, returning Ga’ming’s smile. “I’ll be good as new in no time!”

“Thank you for helping”, Razor says to Ga’ming, his voice solemn but full of gratitude. Bennett turns to give Razor a quick, comforting hug, and Man Chai purrs loudly again, leaping closer to nuzzle Razor as if to tell there’s nothing to worry about anymore.

“All right”, Ga’ming says, “if everyone’s feeling okay, I think we should head back to the Harbour. It’s been fun, but going back home after an eventful day like this is just as nice too!”

And so, the three of them begin their trek back home. Along the way, they chat and joke, the tension of battle having left no trace of distress in the mood. Ga’ming spots many more interesting viewpoints and famous sights to point out to his companions, and they listen to him with unending enthusiasm.

Every time Ga’ming sees the awed expressions and sincere smiles on Razor’s and Bennett’s faces, he feels the budding fondness for his new friends growing deeper. It’s obvious now, after a full day of travelling and helping each other, that they all get along swimmingly; Ga’ming already can’t wait for their next adventure together.

They reach Liyue Harbour safely and without further hardships. Ga’ming’s heart feels light as they enter the city, walking side by side.

“What a fun day”, he says. “Thanks for accompanying me and Man Chai!”

“No, we should thank you! You were the best guide”, Bennett says with a beaming smile.

“I want to go adventuring again”, Razor adds. “Together!”

Ga’ming smiles. “Just pick a day”, he says. “I’ll come with you guys anytime!” Man Chai, who is currently snuggled against Ga’ming’s back and hitching a ride with his paws on Ga’ming’s shoulder, purrs loudly in agreement.

Ga’ming is about to ask if Razor and Bennett want him to walk them back home or if they still have stuff to do, but Bennett speaks up first. “Oh, hey, I just remembered… didn’t you mention that dance number of yours yesterday?”

“Oh!” Ga’ming’s eyes widen and a grin spreads on his face. “The Wushou dance? I can’t believe I almost forgot to tell you… my group is planning to do a performance two days from now! The stage will be near the docks, you can’t miss it if you go down the big stairs. You still think you wanna come see?”

Bennett ponders about something for a moment. “Of course”, he then says, “but — do you think you could show us like, a sample? You always sound so excited when you speak about Wushou dance, I’m getting real curious…”

After a fleeting moment of surprise, a wide smile crosses Ga’ming’s face. He grins, excitement bubbling up inside him. “Well — if you really want, I’ll never say no to showing off some Wushou to people who are interested!”

They find a suitable open space for Ga’ming to give his performance. Curious but patient, Razor and Bennett wait as Ga’ming thinks for a few moments and comes up with a quick plan for a dance. He doesn’t want to spoil the surprise and give away the routine he and his group have planned for the day after tomorrow, but there is a part of the performance that will — with a bit of modification — certainly serve as a great little preview.

“All right, I’m ready”, Ga’ming says, taking a deep breath. “Let’s go, Man Chai!”

Man Chai gives an excited roar, and without further ado, Ga’ming channels his Pyro energy to summon a lion head prop for his dance and lets himself be swept in the joy and thrill of dancing.

Strange excitement and urgency courses through him as he dances for his friends. He wants, maybe more than ever, to show how amazing and beautiful Wushou can be; he is sure he wouldn’t give it his all like this even if he had an audience of a thousand people.

To Ga’ming’s utter delight, Razor and Bennett seem completely enchanted. They gaze at him with wide, amazed eyes, cheering him on and gasping as he performs an especially showy leap. Ga’ming grins, his chest brimming over with so much happiness it makes the lion head in his hands glow even brighter.

Ga’ming keeps the half-improvised dance short, but when he finishes and strikes the final pose, he is grinning with wild excitement and joy. This performance really feels special, with his friends gazing at him in utter awe like he had fetched stars from the sky.

“Wow!” Bennett cheers as he and Razor applaud Ga’ming. “That was amazing, I’ve never seen anything like that!”

“In Mondstadt, dances are very different”, Razor adds. “This was so exciting, very beautiful… thank you for showing us!”

“Thank you two for watching! I’m telling you, not all audiences are this receptive”, Ga’ming laughs, and Man Chai beside him purrs loudly.

“I can’t wait to see the full dance number too”, Bennett says. “You’re so cool, Ming-ge!”

A surprised silence falls upon the trio. A light blush colours Bennett’s cheeks as he realises what he just called Ga’ming, and he grins, flustered. “Uh, I mean, Ga’ming…”

But Ga’ming feels anything but awkward hearing the familiar form of address. “Hey, I love that! Let’s make a deal — if you guys call me Ming-ge, can I call Bennett ‘Benny’?” He winks, smiling. “And we could come up with a nickname for Razor too, can’t leave him out! How about — Leilei?“

Razor’s eyes go wide, and after a moment, a small surprised smile brightens his face. “That sounds… nice”, he says, his voice warm and soft.

“It’s decided then”, Ga’ming says, grinning even wider as he throws his arms around Bennett’s and Razor’s shoulders and squeezes them playfully. “Thanks for today, pals! I can’t wait to hang out together again!”

“Me neither”, Bennett says, laughing. “You know where to find us, so never hesitate to come get us if you need adventuring buddies!”

Before parting to return home, the three friends make a promise to meet on the day of Ga’ming’s performance — at the very latest. Ga’ming has a feeling they might just end up meeting each other the next day again.

“See you, Ming-ge!” Bennett calls out cheerfully before they part, and Razor is wearing that rare, but all the more precious smile of his; he waves at Ga’ming with his eyes full of quiet, genuine fondness.

As if in a delightful reprise of the previous day, Ga’ming watches the Mondstadt boys walk away before heading to his own destination. Inspiration brimming inside him, he decides to go for a snack and then do some extra practice for the Wushou number.

Liyue Harbour’s lights are bright all around the streets, the people chattering sound especially happy today, and Ga’ming can’t stop smiling as he heads for his favourite street food stall.

And — unlike usually — it’s not only the excitement for a thrilling dance number that makes his steps feel so wonderfully light.